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For whatever reason, Michigan State and Iowa have made a habit of teaming up for some ugly basketball in recent years.

The play was brutal at times on Thursday.

The Spartans and Hawkeyes slogged through a series of sloppy possessions early in the second half, with Michigan State slowly chipping away at Iowa's slim lead.

The Spartans finally took their first lead, 43-42, on a nifty layup by Keith Appling off yet another Iowa turnover with just under 9 minutes left. Harris followed with a 3, and Adreian Payne drove the lane and threw down an emphatic one-handed dunk to put the Spartans ahead 48-45 with 6:15 left.

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Michigan State blew the lead but tied it back up at 56 on Harris' three free throws with 1:04 left.

Appling had 12 points, including four free throws in the final 20 seconds for Michigan State, which forced 18 turnovers.

Iowa opened with a 7-0 run and hit nine of its first 12 shots in building an early 10-point advantage. Aaron White -- whose poor defense against the Wolverines was a particular sore spot for McCaffery -- then jumped a passing lane for a transition dunk and a 24-12 lead.

But the Hawkeyes couldn't sustain their early energy level, and Michigan State pulled to 28-24.

White had 11 points, but the Hawkeyes shot just 4 of 16 from 3-point range.

The Spartans have a pair of very winnable games coming up; Nebraska at home on Sunday and at Penn State next Wednesday, before a showdown with No. 15 Ohio State in East Lansing on Jan. 19.